one person has the power to do it -- speaker john boehner. if he calls the bill that passed the senate as he is being urged to by his own members of his own party, we can give a good holiday gift. if not a gift, at least a holiday reference to families all across america who are looking for some help, not only in this holiday season but beyond. madam president, i ask that my next statement be placed in a separate part in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: after a long debate, a lot of television commercials, robocalls and tons of political literature, the 2012 campaign is finally over. america breathes a sigh of political relief. but it was all said and done, more than 120 million americans participated. as we know, the american people have returned divided government to washington. we have a democratic senate with an increased majority, a democratic president, and a republican house of representatives. yet, by a margin of 3.4 million popular votes and 126 electoral votes, president obama was re-elected. now tha